Digging device



Sept. 4, 1934. H E, SATRE 1,972,165

DIGGING DEVICE Filed Feb. 7, 1930 73 E 50in INVENTOR BY W60 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 4, 1934 PATENT orrics 1,972,165 DIGGING DEVICE Hilmar Emil Satre, Chicago, 111., assignor, by

f mesne assignments, to

Spencer, White &

' Prentis, Incorporated, New York, N. Y.,'a corporation of Connecticut Application February '1, 1930, Serial No. 426,623

6 Claims. (Cl. 255-67) This invention relates to apparatus for digging deep holes of large diameter, such as caisson holes and the like. It has more particular reference to the provision of a satisfactory dirt conveying digging auger for such digging apparatus. i Prior to the instant invention it hasbeen generally the custom to dig the holes preparatory to the construction of caissons by hand. Such holes customarily vary in'diameter from four to eight feet and are extended down to firm foundations, not infrequently to a depth of one hundred and two hundred feet.

The invention has for its principal object the provision of a'bucket or dirt conveying digging auger of simple construction and which will be of suiiiciently sturdy construction to accomplish the digging of the hole by rotation about its central axis and which may be employed to remove the excavated earth without danger of breakage.

The invention has for a further important object the provision of a bucket of the character described in combination with a casing construction, which will insure against the caving in of the hole to its entire floor as the digging progresses and this independently of support of the walls of thehole by the bucket.

The digging auger bucket of the instant invention is intended to receive the dirt excavated as the digging progresses and be periodically lifted out of the hole to discharge the dirt for suitable disposal.

" This invention contemplates the construction of a bucket and the provision of a lower casing section to permit the casing usually provided in thedigging of holes for caissons and the liketo continually extend down to the floor of the hole, i. 'e. to extend down to or closely adjacent to the lower or cutting face of the bucket so that in passing through quicksand or other stratification likely to cave in or to fill the hole the quicksand or other stratification will be confined while the digging bucket is elevated for discharge.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bucket embodying the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view taken from a somewhat different angle of observation, parts being shown in section to illustrate internal construction;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the bucket shown I} in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional detail through the bucket in digging position'and showing a portion of a lower casing section.

The digging auger bucket shown on the drawing is generally of cylindrical form and is constructed of two major portions, each of which is of rigid unitary structure. One of these, in-

dicated by reference character 11, forms the major portion of the bucket and is continuous circumferentially about the top and extends throughout a part of the circumference to'the bottom or cutting face. The edges of the sheet are joined together, as indicated at 12 schematically, to provide a rigid and permanent connection. The other portion 13, also of cylindrical form, is hingedly mounted at'14 to the part 13 and completes the cylindrical form of the bucket.

This portion is normally held in closed position 7 by a latch 15 arranged at its free or swinging edge and engages the bucket part 11, as indicated at 16. The bottom of the bucket consists of two plates 17 and 18, each of which is seamed at 19 by spot Welding or otherwise to the bottom 80 of the hole and scrape the material into the auger.

A side. cutter 22 is arranged at the outer endxof each plate'or. hardened steel blade 2l to extend outwardly beyond the outer circumference of the cylindrical auger body at its junction with its companion bottom plate 17, 18. These side cutters serve to enlarge the diameter of the hole beyond the diameter of the bucket and the zone of cutting action of the blades 21.

A heavy cross brace 23 is arranged across the top of the member 11 and is secured at its ends by angle irons 24 or otherwise to the inner surface of the upper part of the bucket; At its oen-' ter the brace 23 is provided with an upwardly extending stem 25 for attachment to the lower end of a square or other non-circular shaft 26 adapted to rotate the bucket in its digging opera tion. An eye-member 27 is preferably secured to the side of the bucket for engagement by a cable to lift the bucket and its contained load out of the hole.

Referring to Fig. 4, reference character 31 indicates a lowermost section of thecasing which is preferably provided in the hole to prevent cavein and to maintain the cylindrical wall resulting from the excavation. As the hole is dug the casing section is continuously lowered and its lower end is sharpened at 32 so that it scrapes or reams the hole as it descends. In the digging of the hole this casing section is preferably maintained at or about the floor of the hole, i. e. at or about the plane of the cutting operation of the cutting or digging blades 21 so that when the bucket is lifted the entire wall of the hole to its bottom is protected by the inserted casing. The movement down of the lowermost casing section 31 is without rotation and the'side cutters 22 cooperating with the scraping edge 32 of the lowermost easing section provide a bottom "diameter of the hole sufficient to permit the casing to engage the floor of the hole as the digging progresses.

i of digging operations of said elements.

.form, I parts without departing from the spirit and and is reinforced across its bottom by the plate 1'7. Except when discharging this bucket part is firmly secured at each side to the bucket-portion 11 through the hinges 14 and the latch 16 respectively. It is thought that the invention and manyof its attendant advantages will be understoodfrom the fcregoing'description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim: r

1. In an apparatus for digging and lining a hole, the combination of an earth auger having a body of cylindrical form having cutting elements at its bottom for cutting anddeliverin'g soil into said auger, and a non-rotatable casing member having a lower sharpened body for scraping soil from the walls of the hole for delivery by said cutting elements into said bucket and arranged substantially at theadvancing zone 2. In an apparatus for digging and lining a. hole, the combination of a cylindrical bucket having cutting elements in its bottom for cutting the bottom of the hole and delivering earth into said bucket, and having also side cutters arranged substantially in the plane of said cutting elements, and a non-rotatable casingsection for scraping the sides of the hole beyond the zone of cutting of said side cutters and arranged substantially in the advancing zone of cutting operation of said cutting elements.

3. :In "an apparatus for digging and lining a hole, the combination of an earth auger having a body of hollow form and having cutting elements at its bottom for cutting and delivering soil into said auger, and a non-rotatable surrounding casingmember arranged substantially at the advancing zone of digging operations of said elements.

4. In an apparatus for digging and lining a .hole, the combination of a, hollow form bucket having cutting elementsin its bottom for cutting the bottom of the hole and delivering earth into vsaid bucket, and having also side cutters arranged substantially in the plane of said cuttingeleinents, and a non-rotatable casing section surrounding the bucket with its loweredge arranged substan tially in the advancing zone of cutting operation of said cutting elements. 1

5. In. an apparatus for digging caisson holes and the like, an auger comprising a cylindrical bucket having elements for digging earthanddelivering it into the bucket through the bottom, the upper portion of which auger is circumferentially rigid and the lower portion of which comprises apart rigid with the upper portion and a part movablefrom a closed-digging relation to an open position to permit dischargefrom' the auger, in combination with a surrounding nonrotatable casing arranged with its lower edge substantially in the advancing zone of operation of the digging elements. 'i v 6. In an apparatus for digging caisson holes and the like, an auger comprising a cylindrical bucket,- the upper portion of which is circume ferentially rigid and the lower portion of which comprises a part rigid; withthe upper portion and a part movablefrom closed digging relation to an openpositionto permit discharge from the auger, cutting elements associated both with the upper and lower portions for excavating thehole and delivering it into the bucket, in combination with a casing closely surrounding theauger with its lower edge maintained-by gravity substantially in the horizontal plane of the dig n zone.

I-IILMAR. SATRE. 

